“Meet the Candidate” AGM Hearing Offers Further Insight with Q&A
Following a well-received speech during the Friday, July 11 plenary at the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ, nominee for Associate General Minister and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, Rev. Shari Prestemon took her platform to a “meet and greet” Q&A session on Saturday, July 12. Those gathered had deep questions for Prestemon, who has been working in an “acting” capacity in the position for the past 18 months. Prestemon replied thoughtfully and as fully as time allowed.

Learning to be exceptional
One question that hit a distinct chord was an inquiry about what we can learn from our global partners. Prestemon didn’t shy away from what could be thought of as controversial.
“This might be hard to hear,” she said. “What we need to learn is what it means to be less privileged. We are all reacting and fearful about so many things we see happening around us. Every part of the church is feeling the pain of this moment. But what we need to realize is that our partners have been risk takers for a very long time. They know something about what it is to be faithful in this moment. We are not the exceptional partner at the table—they are.”
Prestemon reflected back on a moment in a General Synod committee meeting earlier that day around the resolution declaring support for Philippine human rights submitted by the Central Pacific Conference. The Rev. George Lungay, Executive Secretary for Administration, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, spoke to the committee about his experience at home. Prestemon was moved by his words.
“George shared his experience with the committee, and it was powerful. He lives what it means to stay true to your faith when even your wife is saying ‘please pull back from your ministry because your life is at stake.’ But George declared that his faith will not allow him to do that. Overall, we haven’t had to know that lesson here.”
A “Bonhoeffer Moment”
Prestemon was asked what was possibly a “Bonhoeffer moment” for the wider church—what could cause transformation. While she admitted she didn’t have a definitive answer, she declared, “We have to decide what our line is. What is our red line as the UCC, in terms of Gospel mandates, that we cannot abide as people of faith? What are we willing to do? How far are we willing to go? Are we willing to put ourselves at risk for imprisonment? For our lives? Risk of our livelihood? We have to collectively and individually determine that, and be willing to step forward.”

A guiding principle
Asked what guiding principles drive her forward, Prestemon talked about one of her core values. “Integrity. In my personal life, as well as in life as a leader, our integrity as a church guides us. We do what we say we are going to do, we say what we mean and we mean what we say. I learned this from my dad.” Prestemon got a bit choked up when she spotted her brother in the room. “I’m going to get weepy,” she shared. “But the performative stuff isn’t that. Integrity is everything.”
Looking ahead in strategic ways
Prestemon was asked how budgets have affected the work of Global Ministries, and those partnerships the UCC is engaged in. “Yes, it’s true that the number of mission coworkers has dwindled greatly,” she explained. “But we still have 250 partnerships in 90 countries. We need to revisit and refresh those partnerships and be more creative in how we do this. One of our stated priorities is decolonization. We are starting a new strategic planning process, once this position of AGM is settled. And one of the things we need to consider is some new models.” Prestemon shared that one of those models includes not sending someone from North America into a partner nation, but working with someone already in that country.
When partners don’t agree
A question about having differences with partners came up–and Prestemon addressed the concern by noting that those differences can be addressed “in love”– knowing our relationship is thick and we can talk about hard things. “Some of our partners are not in the same place we are when it comes to LGBTQ+ persons and ordaining and marrying for instance,” she shared. “And there are tough conversations with our German partners around what is happening in Gaza, of course. Their history gives them a different perspective. We have these conversations, and we don’t always agree. But we don’t take these relationships for granted and continue to work together.”
Telling stories
One person addressed a concern about ‘how little our local churches know about our global community’ and asked how Prestemon sees this issue. “I’m concerned about that too,” she said. “I’m biased, but I see Global Ministries as one of the best things the UCC has going. I feel very strongly that Global Ministries has an obligation to put a human face on the decisions we make—and we ask our partners to help us humanize those policy decisions. It’s a heavy-duty communications lift. A Conference can put out all sorts of good resources, training, etc, but if no one notices, that’s on us. We need to tell stories that get attention.”

To that end, Prestemon shared that is one reason she started her blog, Voices of the Journey. “It is random how often I write,” she told the crowd. “But I try to put the voices of our partners at the center. I’m very active on social media, beyond posting what I’m having for lunch,” she joked. “But I try to put a face on our partners. Tell the stories. It reminds us that we can make a difference.”
Serving the candidate
Prestemon wasn’t shy about stating what she needs as a UCC leader. She was asked, how can church members best serve her work, and the candidate answered openly. “What you can do is show interest. Sometimes we put out resources and messaging and get crickets in response. And we wonder, does anyone care?”
Prestemon acknowledged that many local churches are struggling to survive. “We focus inward in these times,” she shared. “But the future and vitality of the church is linked to its willingness to look outside itself. Just show us you’re paying attention. Even if that means just saying ‘I want to talk to you about that.’ Engage! We’ve all had enough me, me, me in these times.”
Prestemon fielded other questions from the crowd of 75 or so gathered. The applause at the end of the hour-long session indicated great support. Delegates will vote Monday morning, July 14, on whether to formally elect Prestemon as AGM.
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